Situations in which you MUST pay the SEVIS fee:

You will have to pay the SEVIS fee if any of the following situations apply to you:

You are an F1 student and you are:

• Seeking an initial F1 visa from an embassy or consulate abroad for initial attendance at a Department of Homeland Security(DHS)-approved school and your I-20 was issued on or after September 1, 2004.
• A citizen of Canada, Bermuda or the Bahamas, you do not need a visa, but will be applying for admission to the U.S.at a U.S. port-of-entry to begin initial attendance at a DHS-approved school. Be sure to pay the fee at least 3 business days prior to entering the U.S. so your fee payment can be verified.
• Applying for reinstatement of student status, and you have been out of student status for a period of 5 months or more.
• Wishing to re-enter the United States for a new F program of study, having been absent from the United States for a period exceeding 5 months, and were not working towards completion of curriculum in authorized overseas study (like a study abroad program). Please consult ISSS if you have questions (see below).

You are a J1 exchange visitor and you are:

• Seeking an initial J1 visa from an embassy or consulate abroad for initial attendance in a J program at the University of Colorado at Boulder and your DS2019 was issued on or after September 1, 2004.
• A citizen of Canada, Bermuda or the Bahamas who does not need to have a visa, but will be applying for admission at a U.S. port of entry to begin an initial J program at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Be sure to pay the fee at least 3 business days prior to entering the U.S.so your fee payment can be verified.
• Transferring from a U.S. government J program (with program numbers beginning with G-1, G-2, or G-3) to the University of Colorado at Boulder 's J program.
• Applying for a change of category within the U.S. to J1 with the University of Colorado at Boulder 's J program. 
• Applying for a reinstatement after a substantive violation, or if you have been out of program status for longer than 120 days but less then 270 days during the course of your program.

If you have any questions about the SEVIS fee, please contact ISSS: foreigns@colorado.edu